Review of Almost Famous (2000) by Doctor S — 24 Sep 2012

Claims to be a work of fiction other than the role of Penny Lane loosely based on a real person, but as writer/director Cameron Crowe himself was a teenage journalist paid by Rolling Stone magazine to tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd during the early '70s, it's safe to assume there is a lot of unattributed reality showing up onscreen.

Patrick Fugit (who looks just like a young Jeff Tweedy of Wilco) is perfectly cast as William Miller, the fresh-faced kid swept along on a whirlwind bus tour of up-and-coming band Stillwater, fronted by loudmouth insecure egomaniacal singer Jason Scott Lee in a comically bravura performance who is at odds with reserved charismatic guitarist Billy Crudup who Lee believes is upstaging the rest of the band.

Miller is shown the ropes of the rock'n'roll lifestyle by Kate Hudson in a wonderful characterization as Penny Lane who disparages the term 'groupie' and instead refers to her kind who follow the band for the love of the music first and foremost where the sex & drugs are merely perks as 'band aides.

' Miller becomes friends with the group, particularly Crudup, which puts him at odds with his editors who expect a warts-and-all article. Great soundtrack, albeit with more Led Zeppelin than I'd like, but every song is used to great effect, particularly Zep's "That's The Way" and Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" during an eloquent singalong bonding scene on the bus.

Many small moments add up to a satisfying experience with care taken at every corner. Take for example the silent drummer who only says four words the entire movie, but the fallout gets one the biggest laughs.

Almost Famous represents a labor of love, to be sure.